Tuesday, September 27, 2005

Review

All hail Madam President

'Commander In Chief' gives sugary spin on a woman running the Oval Office

By Mekeisha Madden Toby / The Detroit News

Kent Eanes / ABC Geena Davis plays Mackenzie Allen, the 45-year-old vice president of the United States, who is about to receive the keys to the White House as the first female president. 'Commander In Chief' GRADE: B- 9 tonight, ABC Hail to diversity ABC is not the first network to put a minority in the president's post with its show "Commander In Chief." TV and movies have long done what society has not -- made women and men of color vice presidents and even leaders of the free world, even if it's only in the world of make-believe. Here are a half-dozen of the best examples: • "24" (2001-present). Actor Dennis Haysbert played President David Palmer through the 2004 season on this suspenseful Fox drama. Because of his race, Palmer faced looming death threats. He had a crazy first lady thrown in for good measure. • "Air Force One" (1997). Acting legend Glenn Close is Vice President Kathryn Bennett, calm under pressure with great hair, in this White House thriller. • "The Contender" (2000). Joan Allen plays Sen. Laine Hanson, a shoo-in for vice president, save the whole gender thing. The film also stars Jeff Bridges as the president and is directed by Rod Lurie, who created "Commander In Chief." • "Deep Impact" (1998). Morgan Freeman has played the Lord, for God's sake, what's the president of the United States? Freeman plays President Tom Beck in this sci-fi film. • "Head Of State" (2003). Chris Rock is Mays Gilliam, an unlikely Democratic presidential candidate, who actually wins in this comedic flick. • "Kisses For My President" (1964). Polly Bergen plays President Leslie McCloud, but Fred MacMurray plays her poor first gentleman in this comical farce. Mekeisha Madden Toby The Detroit News Kent Eanes / ABC Donald Sutherland, who plays the speaker of the House, has his eyes on the presidency in "Commander In Chief." Comment on this story Send this story to a friend Get Home Delivery

A guilty pleasure is only so if a person feels remorse.

Just remember to tuck away any such compunction when watching ABC's new White House drama "Commander In Chief."

"Commander In Chief" takes a Lifetime Network-type look at what could happen if a woman were to become president of the United States. Those expecting a radical look at estrogen-tinged politics will be sorely disappointed.

Oscar-winning actress Geena Davis plays Mackenzie Allen, a controversial independent and vice president to a Republican, Teddy Roosevelt Bridges.

When Bridges unexpectedly falls ill, Allen is asked to resign so that Speaker of the House Nathan Templeton (Donald Sutherland), whose views more closely mirror those of the head honcho, can take the president's place. Even the president himself intervenes and asks her to quit.

There is just one problem. Allen wants to be president. While the president is in surgery, Allen pulls strings to secure her political interests so that her possible transition to president, despite urgings to do otherwise, will be smooth. Paramount on her list is saving the life of a Nigerian woman facing execution for adultery.

More dutiful than pioneering, Allen grapples with her options and the president's orders to step down. On the eve of her possible resignation, President Bridges dies, and she gets the job of her dreams.

The anguish over her decision is not hard to believe. Davis, 49, does a wonderful job convincing the viewer that she's a woman on the verge of greatness, held back by stronghold of insecurity and detraction.

Hooray for Davis, a MENSA member and working mom, who got her TV start on the short-lived Dabney Coleman sitcom "Buffalo Bill" (1983-84).

Papa Sutherland is equally compelling as a diabolical politician ready to pounce at the first sign of weakness.

And the White House is so diverse in this world. The Chief of Staff is Jim Gardner (Harry Lennix, "Titus," "Matrix Reloaded" and "Matrix Revolutions"), an African American; and the U.S. Attorney General is a woman, Melanie Blackstone (Leslie Hope, "24").

But "Commander In Chief" doesn't live up to its hype in ABC's heavy promotion as a cutting-edge drama. As the creator and one of the executive producers of "Commander In Chief," Rod Lurie doesn't inspire the same gut-wrenching suspense and commentary he did with his similar big-screen offering.

Lurie, acerbic-TV-critic turned Hollywood filmmaker, is the genius who previously brought the world the film "The Contender," which featured Joan Allen as a senator fighting to become the first female vice president.

President Allen -- and this may sound crazy -- is not political enough. She's too clean and too polished juggling a husband and three kids with a bid for the most important job in the free world. Her hair is too Condoleeza for the blue states and her lips are too red for the red.

In one squeaky-clean scene, Allen has a family meeting to decide if she should become president. It offers one of best examples of the show's acceptably sappy moments, as Allen's youngest daughter asks her mommy if her face will be on money if she takes the job.

Allen's only dirty deed is when she deceives and demotes her husband, who also is her chief of staff. She chooses Jim Gardner instead to be her new chief of staff . Her hubby, Rod Calloway (Kyle Secor), simply becomes the first -- well -- gentleman.

This show is cotton candy for every little girl who dreams of becoming president and every man with a daughter. A little too flip and cute at times -- oh no, sweetie, you spilled juice on President Mommy's nice white blouse! -- "Commander In Chief" still is entertaining.

Let the fantasy ensue.

You can reach Mekeisha Madden Toby at (313) 222-2501 or mmad den@detnews.com.